The Personal Is Political: Rap, Representation and Rokhsareh Ghaemmaghami's Sonita

How does the camera mediate between reality and records of it? This question lies at the heart of Sonita, a documentary that chronicles its eponymous figure's tumultuous journey from Afghanistan's oppressive patriarchy, to conservative Iran, to the relative liberalism of the United States. Beyond chronicling the plight of its aspiring-rapper subject, however, the film reveals the pivotal role of its maker, not just on the ultimate shape of the resulting film, but also on the life of young Sonita Alizadeh herself, writes Gabrielle O'Brien.

Additional keywords: migration, objectivity, refugee, child bride.